Echo


  • When Muhammad Ali and the Fab Four Collided

    In February 1964, two of the most iconic forces of the 20th century collided in an encounter so surreal it could have been scripted by Hollywood. The Beatles, fresh off their earth-shattering debut on The Ed Sullivan Show, met Cassius Clay (soon to be Muhammad Ali) in Miami Beach. It was a meeting that combined…

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  • Boombox Bonanza: The History and Evolution of Portable Music Players

    In a world dominated by smartphones and wireless earbuds, it’s easy to forget the trailblazers of portable audio that paved the way. This journey through the history and evolution of portable music players is filled with innovation, cultural shifts, and technological marvels. Letโ€™s dive into the groovy history and evolution of portable music players, a…

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  • A Deeper Look Into a Modern Classic: The Dayton Wright Hommage

    From the PMA vault, this article was initially published in August 2022 and is worth revisiting. One of my favourite and most memorable listening experiences this year was of the state-of-the-art Dayton Wright Hommage (French for Homage) loudspeaker, a cutting-edge re-imagining and redesign of the Dayton Wright XG-10 of yore. The Hommage uses nine XG-10…

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  • John Lennon & Paul McCartney’s Last Photos Together

    In March 1974, amidst the backdrop of a Santa Monica beach house with a storied past, a fleeting reunion between John Lennon and Paul McCartney was captured in photographs that spoke volumes about their complex friendship. These images, snapped by May Pang during what was infamously known as Lennon’s “Lost Weekend,” offered rare glimpses of…

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  • Streaming vs. Lossless: Understanding Audio Formats

    In the ever-evolving landscape of digital music, the quest for pristine sound quality amidst the convenience of digital formats has led to the creation of an array of lossless audio codecs. These formats serve as a beacon for audiophiles and music enthusiasts alike, offering a sanctuary where the integrity of sound is preserved in its…

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  • Books, Beats, and Buds: Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Purple Haze’

    In the swirling, electric year of 1967, a groundbreaking track reverberated through the UK, soon to envelop the US in its mesmerizing sound waves. This wasn’t just any songโ€”it was “Purple Haze” by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, a sonic masterpiece that would redefine the boundaries of rock music. But beyond its revolutionary guitar riffs and…

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  • Echoes of Apollo: The Music of Ancient Greece

    Introduction: The Soul of Greek Culture In the heart of ancient Greece, music was the very pulse of society, intricately woven into the fabric of daily life and imbued with a significance that went far beyond mere entertainment. This deep integration of music in Greek culture manifested in various dimensions, from the sacred echoes in…

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  • Rhino High Fidelity: A Vinyl Series to be Reckoned With

    “The sound quality is excellent โ€“ super-clean, dynamic, with extended frequency range and a defined soundstage.”

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  • How a Vinylphile Found His Groove, Part 2

    “Holy ‘Groove Echo’, Batman!”

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  • Clean Ears, Clean Sounds: Unveiling the Audiophile’s New Secret Weapon

    In the hallowed halls of audiophilia, where the quest for acoustic perfection is more sacred than the silence in a monastery, a groundbreaking revelation is about to send shockwaves. Audiophiles, brace yourselves, for the game is about to change, not with another esoteric piece of equipment, but with something far more… personal. Enter the Ear…

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  • The Room Acoustics Series: Reflecting on Sidewall First Reflections

    A room acoustics expert tells us all we need to know about the subject, starting with this first installment in the Room Acoustics Series.

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  • The 1985 Effect

    In the ever-evolving landscape of hip-hop, a phenomenon reverberates with unwavering resonance – “The 1985 Effect.” This term is harvested from the seeds of J. Cole’s candid song “1985 (Intro to ‘The Fall Off’),” where wisdom intertwines with rhythm, creating a narrative that pierces the fabric of contemporary hip-hop culture. The song paints an authentic…

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  • Entering The Cavern: The Day Epstein Discovered The Beatles

    In the brisk Liverpool air of November 9, 1961, a cultural metamorphosis was about to take place in the subterranean buzz of The Cavern Club. Brian Epstein, a local record store owner with an unassuming demeanor but a razor-sharp vision for the future of music, descended the stairs into the heart of the cityโ€™s vibrant…

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  • Katana & Keynotes: A Samurai’s Discourse on Sound

    Nestled amidst a lush garden, the distant chirping of cicadas providing a serene backdrop, Master Tekashi and young Daichi sit opposite each other on tatami mats, a steaming pot of tea between them. The fragrant aroma of the brew serves as a prelude to their conversation, bridging the worlds of sound and samurai. Daichi: Master,…

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  • Bowie’s American Revolution: The Rise of Ziggy Stardust

    In the tumultuous backdrop of 1972, while Nixon, Watergate, and Vietnam dominated headlines, an avant-garde figure from Brixton emerged on American terrain. David Bowie, along with his alter ego Ziggy Stardust, was prepared to ignite the U.S., not with politics but with an unmatched brand of rock ‘n’ roll โ€” a facet of Bowie’s American…

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